Kingambit
Attack
Defense
Stamina
Best Movesets
Analysis
Bisharp has evolved, and it's no longer a mere pawn or a powerful bishop.... no, it's now a KING! Despite the fact that the king is arguably the single weakest piece on the chessboard (a pawn can turn into a Queen if it makes it to the back row, and the game doesn't necessarily end if a pawn is in mortal danger from which it can't escape).
Regardless, Kingambit is... okay. It has a solid Attack stat and good movesets in both of its types. it's not an OUTSTANDING Pokemon in PvE, but it can be an okay option early-game if only for its double-duty.
That said, Kingambit DOES have a Dark Type signature move that goes by the name of Kowtow Cleave in the main series, so it might yet have a future.
Offense
- Snarl and Dark Pulse is the way to go if you want to deal Dark Type damage
- Metl Claw and Iron Head is the way to go if you want to deal Steel Type damage
- Metal Claw and Dark Pulse is technically the strongest moveset that Kingambit can muster against opponents weak to both Dark and Steel, though the damage increase is pretty small.
- X-Scissor and Focus Blast don't offer much to Kingambit.
Defense
- Snarl out-paces Metal Claw on defense, though Metal Claw is worth considering due to the fact that most Fighting Types don't resist it.
- X-Scissor comes out more frequently, but it's not perfect due to just how bad Bug's coverage is.
- Iron Head is also a good option, though its coverage isn't outstanding either.
- Dark Pulse would be good, but the fact that it's the same type as Snarl means that it would be pretty easy to wall out Kingambit with anything that resists Dark.
- Focus Blast is just too slow to be useful.
Metal Sound is the best Fast Attack available on Kingambit, sporting high energy generation and decent damage. Snarl offers slightly higher, but almost negligible energy generation for much lower damage, making it not worth running. Metal Claw is strictly inferior to Metal Sound
Foul Play is Kingambit's primary Charged Attack thanks to its low cost, STAB, and great general coverage. Kingambit's secondary options aren't amazing. Iron Head is a rather poor move, but it can smash Fairy-type Pokemon - matchups that Kingambit surprisingly often struggles against. Focus Blast is Kingambit's only high damage move; it is unreliable, but Metal Sound's energy generation makes it reasonably reachable. X-scissor can cleave through opposing Dark-type Pokemon. Dark Pulse is often redundant with Foul Play around.
Kingambit possesses a unique typing, passable stats, and decent moves. It's a Pokemon that can appear when the metagame calls for its Steel- and Dark-type contributions, but this is currently not its time to shine.
